My name is Leanne Steed and I have been practising yoga for 25 years and teaching group classes and one-to-one sessions for 5 years. I am a teacher member of the Association for Yoga Studies (AYS) and a fully qualified Yoga Therapist, having trained with the British Council for Yoga Therapy accredited Sādhana Mālā Yoga Therapy Course. I am also CNHC registered. In addition I have an MSc in Counselling Psychology. I am married. have raised 4 children and am currently enjoying the second spring that is menopause. I teach yoga to children aged 3 years to folks in their 90s. I am passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga with others.
Yoga is an ancient philosophy and practice with many health and well-being benefits, dating back thousands of years. It includes posture work, breathing techniques and meditation.
Yoga helps to strengthen and support our bodies, mind and breath.
The fruits of regular yoga practice can be:
Viniyoga means special application of yoga and the hallmarks of the approach are a dedicated focus on making postures accessible to everyone. We all have different body shapes, strengths and weaknesses and so a one size fits all approach can be counterproductive. We all need to be able to reach our own, personal potential.
The second hallmark of the approach is the focus on the breath, both to assist the body in posture work and to calm the mind. Extending the outbreath, naturally improves the quality of the in breath and this in turn promotes calm and relaxation and improved physical and mental wellbeing, as well as assisting the body in moving in and out of postures. It enables us to influence our parasympathetic nervous system, more commonly known as relax and digest, and to offset the consequences of a flight or fight system which is in constant use as a result of the demands of modern ways of living.
Yoga can bring many health benefits as well as a greater sense of wellbeing and ability to relax. Improved posture, better digestion, improved sleep and a reduction in anxiety are all possible through regular practice. In the busy world which we all inhabit, time out to breathe and allow a little self- care is becoming more and more important for our general sense of wellbeing.
I have been practising Viniyoga for 25 years and teaching yoga classes for 5 years now. I am fortunate to have been trained by Dave Charlton and Ranju Roy, leading teachers in the Viniyoga tradition in the UK.
What we learn about ourselves on the yoga mat can be applied to everyday life and become a true support on our own personal journey through the mysteries of life. This continues to be my own, personal experience and I cannot imagine how my life would be without yoga in it.
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I have been attending weekly online yoga sessions with Leanne since September 2022.
Leanne is passionate about yoga, constantly building on her personal practice which she generously shares in her classes as she consistently encourages us to develop in a valuing, supportive & empowering manner.
I continue to benefit in relation to my body, my mind and it has helped improve the quality of my sleep.
Training the brain to slow down is essential in maintaining healthy mental health which is what Leanne is promoting in her sessions.
I highly recommend yoga with Leanne.
by Sharon (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) from Leicestershire
I have been attending Leanne’s Yoga classes for around eighteen months, having never tried yoga before. Recently retired, I felt that my joints were stiff, and I wanted to increase my flexibility as I got older.
Leanne has done a brilliant job and her weekly yoga sessions have made a real difference as I can now easily pick up a coin from the floor! Also, with other sessions being available at different times and dates in the week, there is always the opportunity to swop if needed, so no need to miss out.
She is very knowledgeable and will always fit the postures around each person’s capabilities and restrictions. A real bonus has been Leanne’s emphasis on mindful breathing - I have found this to be a wonderful way to connect with myself and slow down.
I am now embarking on Yoga Therapy with Leanne to further improve my posture. Thank you, Leanne for all your hard work and energy.
by Maddie (retired)
I’ve been doing yoga with Leanne for a year now. I’d never done yoga before and thought I would try it out.
It’s in a very small group, maximum of 4 people. The studio is set up specifically for yoga. Leanne is an excellent teacher, incredibly experienced and passionate about yoga and the philosophy behind it.
I am not very co-ordinated and initially found it hard to follow the moves. Because the groups are so small Leanne could give me her individual attention and ensure that I was doing the right thing. I have been pleasantly surprised to find that my co-ordination has improved no end and that I can now follow complicated sequences without trouble. I think this is all down to Leanne.
Yoga has also helped me focus on my breathing.
For me, the main benefit of the sessions is how they’ve made me feel. I have a busy, stressful life and find it difficult to sit down and unwind. After a session with Leanne though I emerge feeling rested and relaxed. It’s a bit of an oasis from the world.
by Victoria (Legal advisor)
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I have known Leanne for almost 20 years, originally as a fellow student and for the last four years as my yoga teacher. I have observed Leanne grow in confidence, knowledge and in her manner of teaching.
Because the classes are in a small group setting Leanne can tailor each class to each individual and considers any health needs the students may have.
Any student, whether a beginner or more experienced, will benefit from Leanne’s teaching. She explains the background and reasons for the focus of each class.
Leanne is an inspirational and calm teacher and I always appreciate her sharing her knowledge and skills. I always leave every class feeling relaxed, balanced and “whole”.
Thank you
by Melissa (retired)
I love Leanne's small group classes. They provide a deep and very personal focus to my yoga practice.
Leanne's warm style of teaching offers access to the wisdom behind the movements and poses and brings many decades of experience, ayurvedic and yoga knowledge & passion to her classes. Her keen eye and healing approach means that yoga facilitates the mind/body connection and can be the answer to personal physical problems as well as a deep exercise and spiritual practice.
by Adrienne
Having not done yoga for over 30 years, I found Leanne by chance and am so pleased I did. She checks in with everyone at the start of each session, so that she knows when to suggest adaptions to poses. Her sessions stand alone, but each term has a theme, so the yoga is always evolving. I start to relax as soon as I hear her voice. She guides you through each pose, offering quiet suggestions of hand or foot placement changes to help. She does the counting, so I don't need to. Her yoga concentrates on breathing, with the breath working with each pose. In a busy world, Leanne's classes are a time for self care. I leave every class with a mind that is no longer racing and a body that is relaxed. Thank you Leanne.
by Kate
I am in my 60’s and due to PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in my past life, I have long term pain, fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression and other health problems. I volunteer for the NHS, and I run a Pain Management Support Group in Ash, in Kent. This was how I was introduced to Leanne. Leanne came as our speaker to our support group, all our members enjoy seeing Leanne when she visits us and they all enjoy taking part in the breathing exercises that Leanne shows us to do. I personally attended six yoga therapy sessions with Leanne. She is an exceptional listener, calming and friendly. She devised a “personal plan” for me that tailors what I can and can’t do and what I feel comfortable doing. I do my practice in the evenings as it helps me to unwind from the day, then I do my laying down exercises on the bed and lastly the rest and relaxation visualisation. Meeting Leanne has helped me in so many ways, she does not tell me what to do, she shows me and works with me to help me in the best way possible. Thank you so much Leanne.
by Maureen
